MumbaiThe Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction on Friday termed the Maharashtra government’s Budget 2023-24 as ‘gajar halwa’ and accused the Eknath Shinde-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of showing false dreams in an election year. People.
The party said in its mouthpiece ‘Saamana’ that Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who presented the budget in the state assembly on Thursday, showered assurances but failed to announce compensation to farmers who suffered losses due to unseasonal rains earlier this week. Did not show leniency.
Fadnavis, who is also the state’s finance minister, presented the Shinde government’s first budget, in which he proposed Rs 6,000 assistance to farmers and a Re 1 crop insurance scheme, as well as professional tax relief for working women, ticket fares Offered 50% off. Women in state-run buses and a new scheme for the girl child.
Elections are due in various state bodies including the cash-strapped Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The state assembly elections are due in October 2024. Referring to the announcement of payment of Rs 6,000 to farmers under the ‘Namo Shetkari Mahasamman Nidhi’ to supplement the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Samman Nidhi scheme, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) said in the budget that hailstorms and unseasonal rains Didn’t talk about compensation to the farmers.
Unseasonal rains lashed large parts of the state, damaging standing crops. “The ‘gajar halwa’ (a sweet made from carrots) of the budget announcements is aimed at misleading people,” the party said.
Fadnavis had said in the assembly that the budget is based on five key goals or ‘Panchamrut’ sustainable farming-prospering farmers; Inclusive development of all sections of society including women, tribals, backward classes and OBCs; infrastructure development with substantial capital investment; Employment generation for competent, skilled and employable youth as well as environment friendly development.
Taking a jibe at the deputy CM, the Shiv Sena (UBT) said the intensity of Fadnavis’ assurance was more than the unseasonal rain and hailstorm two days ago that had affected most parts of the state.
Why did the Finance Minister not show generosity in giving compensation to the crops damaged due to unseasonal rains? the party asked in the editorial, adding that the only solution for agricultural produce was to price it on the basis of production cost. It alleged, “This year’s budget shows that the state government’s policy is to show false dreams to farmers and people by showering them with coins.”